BOISE — Terri Pickens announced her candidacy for Idaho governor Monday, about a year out from the 2026 elections.

Pickens is a small business owner and founding partner of Pickens Law, P.A. and previously ran for Idaho lieutenant governor in 2022. In a news release provided by her campaign, the Democrat positioned herself in opposition to recent actions taken by the Trump administration early in his second term.

“I am running for governor because I am answering the call to lead during a time of conflict and fear,” Pickens said in her announcement video. “For too long, politicians have ignored us and we just can’t go on this way. We need to change course and elect leaders who listen, who act, and who won’t bend the knee to billionaires.”

Taking aim at sitting Gov. Brad Little, Pickens took issue with Idaho’s working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, saying it amounted to opening the door to federal agents policing Idahoans. Citing the recent raid on a horse racing track in Wilder, Pickens said that this policy has resulted in families being torn apart.

In her campaign announcement video, Pickens also expressed a desire to end the use of private and religious school vouchers in Idaho that were passed in the previous legislative session, spoke against the Legislature “passing laws forcing women to give birth” — in reference to the narrow exceptions in the state’s abortion bans — and spoke against efforts by the federal government to sell off federal lands earlier this year, including some in Idaho.

“I still believe in Idaho,” Pickens said in her campaign video. “I know we are decent, courageous, and independent. We are strong together and together we will reclaim our future.”

A campaign launch event has been scheduled for Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. at the Beside Bardenay in Boise, located at 612 W Grove St. The event will have appetizers, refreshments and conversation on Pickens’ vision for Idaho, Pickens’ campaign website said.

The filing window for the 2026 gubernatorial election will open in March. Though Little has yet to formally announce his candidacy, President Donald Trump gave an endorsement of the Idaho governor for the 2026 election in June on his social media site, Truth Social, as previously reported by the Idaho Press.